The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-01-05
"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.
BY BEN: PERLEf PooRE.

of them came In kits, and the other
half wore plaid trousers. They were
not we'll differed, and Simon Cameron.
then Secretary of War, permitted his q
brother to assume the command. AZ
month or two later, and the Scotch
men fought with their accustomed
bravery at Bull Run, Col. Cameron
receiving q mortal wound. Among
other stories told about the bravery Of
Scotch regiments is one about the
Ninety-third of the British army. When
il was in the Crimean war at Balaklava
the odd look of the kits attracted the
notice of the Russians, who came into
camp with flag OF truce, and one of
the officers asked: What sort of SOL
diers are those in the petticoats? ?" The
answer given by waggish Britisher
was funny enough. These" said he,
"are the wives of the soldiers who ride
on the gray horses, meaning the Scots
Grays. Marshal Butcher, in a dispatch
relating to the battle of Waterloo,
wrote "The Old Guard were baffled
by the intrepidity of the Scottish regi-
ments." This account of Highlanders
on the field of gore and glory was con-
firmed by the prevailing belief both in
Paris and throughout France, the
French soldiers themselves saying that
it was the Scottish troops and troopers
who chiefly occasioned the loss of the
battle by defeating the Imperial Guard.
Few regiments are more purely Scotch
than the Scots Grays. The terrific
charges made by this splendid corps of
cavalry at Waterloo called forth the
admiration of Napoleon. And when he
witnessed the highlanders in their
kits and bonnets and tartans beat back
his solid columns, he at once coniec-
tured their country, and while they
contributed so much to blast his earth
" glory he could not repress the ex-
clamation, "Les braUeS Zoos, ais"
Mr.. Evarts, when about to retire
from the Department of State, at the
close of the Hayes administration, was
complimented 10y a magnificent enter
tainment given in his honor at the
Mexican Legation, by Senior de Zama-
coma, then the minister from our sister
republic. The front of the legation
was brilliantly illuminated with red,
white and green lights, and presented
most picturesque appearance. 1t
each corner and in the center were
three large balls of red, white and
blue, and the word Mexico" Just in
the center of the lights; below this
was blazing eagle in clear, light bars
of color light, while up and across the
building were arranged many colored
lights, in q manner that showed arts
tic ability. Such decorations were
never before designed in Washington,
and, as consequence, the street in
front of the residence was a surging
mass of people. If the exterior deco
rations of the house were beautiful,
those of the interior were no less
costly and tasteful The guests were
received in the front parlor by Senior
and Sonora /amacona and their
daughter, who extended to all most
cordial welcome Nine. Zamacona
wore magnificent ball-dress of
corn-colored striped satin. Miss
Zamacona was in blue satin decollete
necklace of pearls, and profusion Of
pink and blue flowers. The parlor in
which the guests were received was
deliberately trimmed On either side
of the vestibule, leading therein, were
baskets of green, with the words swell
come" and Mexico" worked in white
carnations. In the inches were baskets
of flowers, and the halls were also
deliberately trimmed with them. Be-
tween the bow windows of the parlor
was large shield, with n bed of white
immortelles, and on this in brilliant
blossoms were the emblems of "Com-
merce" at the top, and peace" at the
bottom. Rare plants were scattered in
great profusion all ever the rooms. On
the mantels in china pots were choice
varieties of the East India orchids,
blooming in profuse abundance. AGA
cias, cucurlugo, pandanas. azaleas,
Gala lilies, camellias, and plants were
arranged in the very best taste. At
the end of the parlor, amid blooming
plant, was the tOble where an immense
punch-bowl of solid silver, gold-lined
spoons, silver salver, and silver candle
labra sent from Mexico for this occa-
sion, made an attractive sight Lead
ing from this was the conservatory,
where a musical waterfall rippled over
moss-covered rocks, and 10y a curious
arrangement was lighted with rainbow
tints.
Colonel Elias Rector, of Arkansas,
used to tell good story about his rid
ing some miles with Sam Houston, then
on his way to Texas to take part in the
War of independence. Houston rode
pony and was dressed in q buckskin
suit, and, with his rifle swung across
his shoulder, he looked every inch the
hunter. He drank freely from bottle.
At length they arrived at the fork of
two trails, one of which led to Fort
Smith, where Rector was going, and
the other TO Texas. Houston held up
his bottle in the air, and was about
proposing parting drink, when young
Rector checked him, and said if Hous-
ton would not consider it impertinent
in young man he wished to make q
request "What is it? said Houston.
1T is, replied Rector, "that You here
pledge yourself never TO take another
drink of intoxi ating liquors" All
right, my boy" said Houston, I'll do
it, and raising the bottle high abo Q
his head he dashed it to the ground.
wetting the ground with its contents.
"Now," said Rector, "as slight gift in
memory of me, 1 will give you my ra-
zor, it being the custom of people in
those days to carry their razor and
| shave themsplvas Houston occantad